Hey Indie Filmmakers

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode: #Freelanswers with Adam Rahn Dec 30, 2020

Show notes

Bonus Episode: #Freelanswers with Adam Rahn Adam Rahn & Griffin Hammond Download

Bonus Episode: #Freelanswers with Adam Rahn

Griffin Hammond met Adam Rahn in college, while producing student television. Now he’s a guest on Adam’s podcast, #Freelanswers. In this conversation, they discuss their education paths, how to keep learning, and tackle the age-old question, "Do you need to go to film school?"

The Secret Vignette Lighting Trick Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

The Secret Vignette Lighting Trick Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

The Secret Vignette Lighting Trick

At the end of each shoot, Griffin turns off his lights to capture a dark backplate for this vignette lighting effect. Plus, socially distanced interviews, the latest with Apple’s M1 processors, and Nick’s newest camera.

Griffin’s current lighting setup:

Key light: Westcott Flex LED bounced off a white wall
Back lights and accents: Aputure 120d 3-light kit
Aputure Light Dome II + CTO gels (¼ CTO and full CTO+ND)

Lens: Panasonic 12mm f/1.4

For socially distanced interviews, Griffin recently traveled with:

Host mic: Sennheiser wireless stick mic
Guest mic: Azden 250CX shotgun mic + Pearstone 11” articulating arm + Peak Design Travel Tripod
Primary lens: Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lens

Watch the 18 videos Griffin produced in 72 hours, from six states.

Nick’s new Sony Alpha a7C camera doesn’t overheat or limit his recording time. And its silver trim makes Griffin nostalgic for his first digital camera: the 1998 Toshiba PDR-M1 (via Digitalkamera Museum).

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera Sep 30, 2020

Show notes

Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera

Filmed with a 20-year-old Sony Handycam, Griffin explains interlacing, pixel aspect ratios, IEEE 1394, and the quirks of shooting and editing in standard definition.

Features of the DCR-TRV320 Sony Handycam—

Records standard-definition, interlaced video (720x480i) onto Digital 8 tapes
25x optical zoom, 18x digital zoom, SteadyShot digital image stabilization
Swivel-mounted 2.5-inch LCD monitor
FireWire interface (IEEE 1394)
Built-in NightShot infrared lamp

To connect this old camera to my modern iMac Pro, I have three adapters in sequence:

Amazingly, it works! Zoom recognizes it as an available webcam, and Final Cut Pro X imports successfully—though I find I need to record onto a tape to keep the camera from auto-shutting off.

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Recording voiceover audio in a closet Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Recording voiceover audio in a closet Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

Recording voiceover audio in a closet

Griffin squeezes into a basement closet to record voiceover, while Nick maneuvers his lighting into a new position.

To convert this closet into a DIY recording booth, Griffin bought 24 of these DEKIRU “high-density” acoustic tiles and this Sound Addicted 4-pack of foam bass traps.

Nick just bought a new everyday bag — the Tom Binh Luminary 15 — and is considering editing a wedding on iPad, using LumaFusion.

For more info on downloading YouTube videos or using YouTube-DL, check out the show notes for our December 2019 episode.

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

What does Apple’s switch to ARM processors mean for filmmakers? Jul 31, 2020

Show notes

What does Apple’s switch to ARM processors mean for filmmakers? Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

What does Apple’s switch to ARM processors mean for filmmakers?

Griffin makes a big life change, and Nick explains what Apple calls “the biggest leap ever for the Mac.” What does Apple’s switch to ARM processors mean for filmmakers?

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Some of the WWDC 2020 Keynote moments Nick highlighted:

0:01 — Opening Earth/Memoji animation (song: Daydreamer by AURORA)
36:10 — Nick appreciates phone calls as notifications in iOS14
86:45 — Mac is transitioning from Intel to Apple Silicon (ARM)
96:52 — Manipulating a 5-gigabyte Photoshop file
97:22 — Real-time video effects in Final Cut Pro X
99:21 — Rosetta 2 translates old Mac apps to run on new Apple Silicon

Also mentioned in this episode:

Griffin’s video, Why it’s (mostly) illegal to drone in NYC
Nick’s video, How to “Shuck” (remove) a hard drive

Now working, editing from home (with kids) Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

Now working, editing from home (with kids) Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

Now working, editing from home (with kids)

Filmed on March 26—Griffin’s 13th day working from home in NYC. The podcast moves into our living rooms to capture the everyday noises we’re usually trying to hide from the audience.

My talented coworker Brennan Murphy made this video—the awkwardness of working from home.

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Upgrading Nick’s Lighting Setup Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Upgrading Nick’s Lighting Setup Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download

Upgrading Nick’s Lighting Setup

Nick wanted better lighting for his home office, so he purchased a budget 2-light RGB LED kit. And Griffin arrives in Nevada to help him set it up!

The LED kit Nick purchased (on sale for $160):
GVM 800D-RGB LED Studio 2-Video Light Kit

Hey Indie Filmmakers is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

**Covering Presidential Politics with the Peak Design Travel Tripod** Jan 31, 2020
Show notes
Covering Presidential Politics with the Peak Design Travel Tripod Griffin Hammond & Nick Bodmer Download
Covering Presidential Politics with the Peak Design Travel Tripod

Griffin is on the campaign trail, days before the Iowa Caucuses—with drone shots, gimbal maneuvers. Is the Peak Design Travel Tripod up to the challenge of political press events?
Watch Griffin’s latest film from the campaign trail in Iowa.
Or download *The Recount* app on iOS or Android.
*Hey Indie Filmmakers* is brought to you by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/griffin to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

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Bonus Episode: #Freelanswers with Adam Rahn

The Secret Vignette Lighting Trick

Filming with a 20-year-old Digital 8 camera

Recording voiceover audio in a closet

What does Apple’s switch to ARM processors mean for filmmakers?

Racecar Driving in a VR Cockpit

Now working, editing from home (with kids)

Upgrading Nick’s Lighting Setup

Covering Presidential Politics with the Peak Design Travel Tripod

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